Herbs That Tonify Qi

Herbs That Tonify Qi:

  • Herbs in this category are generally sweet and rich.
  • They are most often combined with herbs that move and regulate the qi.

Section Herbal Summary:

  • Ren Shen is used when the qi and yang have collapsed, otherwise Dang Shen is preferred.
    • Body tonify yuan qi; often used together for this purpose.
    • Dang Shen is good for deficient cough with profuse sputum.
  • Tai Zi Shen - gentle, moist, can replace Ren Shen especially in cases of liver yang rising.
  • Bai Zhu - spleen deficiency leading to digestion problems or water metabolism issues.
  • Huang Qi - wei qi, warms and raises qi, water metabolism issues.
  • Huang Jing, Shan Yao - relatively neutral, used for tonifying qi and yin.
    • Huang Jing - more moistening, relatively stronger in nourishing yin, good for post-febrile disease where yin and qi have been injured.
    • Shan Yao - astringent, used for various types of incontinence or collapse.

Chinese Herbsort icon Functions and Usage
Bai Zhu (Atractylodes (White) Rhizome) - Chinese Herbal Medicine
  • Tonifies the spleen, augments qi, dries dampness - diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, vomiting, edema.
  • Stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating - spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency.
  • Calms the fetus - arising from spleen deficiency.
Da Zao (Chinese Date, Jujube)
  • Tonifies spleen qi - weakness, shortness of breath, reduced appetite, loose stools.
  • Nourishes the blood, calms the spirit - irritability, pale complexion, emotional disturbances, restlessness.
  • Useful to harmonize the harsh properties of other herbs.
Dang Shen (Codonopsis Root)
  • Tonifies the middle warmer, augments the qi - lack of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, any spleen qi deficiency issues, prolapse of uterus, stomach, rectum.
  • Tonifies the lungs - lung deficiency w/chronic cough, shortness of breath, copious sputum due to spleen qi deficiency.
  • Nourishes fluids - xiao ke, thirst due to injury to fluids.
  • Often used with herbs that release the exterior when patient has significant qi deficiency.
Gan Cao (Licorice Root)
  • Tonifies the spleen and augments qi - spleen deficiency w/shortness of breath, fatigue, loose stools (si jun zi tong).
  • Qi and/or blood deficiency w/irregular pluse or palpitations (Zhi Gan Cao Tang).
  • Moistens the lungs and stops cough - heat/cold in the lungs (Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang).
  • Clears heat and toxic fire (raw) - carbuncles, sores, sore throat due to fire toxin (internally or topically).
  • Alleviates pain and stops spasms - abdomen or legs (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang).
  • Often used to harmonize and/or moderate characteristics of other herbs.
  • Antidote for toxic substances (internally and topically).
Huang Jing (Siberian Solomon Seal Rhizome)
  • Tonify spleen qi and yin - with poor appetite, fatigue, dry mouth, loss of taste, dry stool, dry red tongue.
  • Moistens the lungs - dry cough, little sputum due to lung qi and yin deficiency.
  • Tonify kidneys, strengthen jing - lower back pain/weakness, lightheadedness.
  • Xiao Ke.
Huang Qi (Astragalus Root)
  • Tonifies spleen qi - lack of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea.
  • Raises yang qi of spleen and stomach - prolapse of uterus, stomach, rectum, uterine bleeding.
  • Augments the wei qi and stabilizes the exterior - deficiency w/spontaneous sweating, frequent colds or shortness of breath.
  • Tonify qi and blood due to loss of blood - postpartum fever.
  • Edema from deficiency.
  • Promote discharge of pus, generate flesh - sores due to deficiency.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)
  • Strongly tonify yuan qi - extreme collapse of qi, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, weak pulse (often used alone for this condition after severe blood loss).
  • Tonify lung qi - wheezing, shortness of breath, w/kidneys failing to grasp the qi.
  • Strengthen the middle warmer - lethargy, no appetite, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of organs, distended chest/abdomen.
  • Generates fluids, stops thirst - xiao ke, damaged fluid due to high dever and profuse sweating.
  • Benefits heart qi, calms the spirit - palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, restlessness due to qi and/or blood deficiency.
Shan Yao (Chinese Yam)
  • Tonify the spleen and stomach qi - diarrhea, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, lack of appetite.
  • Tonify the lung qi and yin - chronic cough/wheezing.
  • Strengthen the kidney yin and yang - not hot nor cold, benefits both yin and yang, xiao ke, also binds the jing - spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, frequent urination.
Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria)
  • Strengthen the spleen, augment qi - fatigue, reduced appetite.
  • Tonifies lung qi - spontaneous sweating.
  • Generates fluids - thirst, injury to fluids after a febrile disease, fever, summerheat in children.
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root)
  • This preparation increases the qi tonifying aspects of the heart and spleen along with its general harmonizing function within formulas.  See Gan Cao for complete information.